Press Release for Thursday, February 19, 2004

Honorary Founders Plaque Rededicated

JACKSONVILLE – The University of North Florida will honor its early supporters with the rededication of the Honorary Founders plaque that was “lost” several years ago during the renovation of Daniel Hall.

The ceremony at 5 p.m. outside the east entrance of Daniel Hall is part of a week of events to mark the inauguration of President John Delaney as UNF’s fifth president. UNF’s first president, Dr. Thomas Carpenter, will take part in the rededication.

During the ceremony, the restored plaque will be unveiled. The plaque originally was unveiled Dec. 17, 1972, to honor 49 donors who contributed $500 or more to a “fund-raising and friend-raising” drive to support financial aid programs. The donors were deemed “honorary founders,” and their names were placed on the plaque.

During that campaign, the new UNF Foundation raised $38,000 from more than 250 private individuals, business enterprises and civic organizations. The donations were used to help 211 students in the University’s charter class. Further donations and state matching funds later enabled the Foundation to help 219 students. Some of the original scholarship recipients are expected to attend the event.